Gauteng-based entrepreneur, Joey Kganyago, started a new tourism business just before Valentine’s weekend on February 13. In the last two months, her Picnic in a Bubble business has grown from strength to strength and has seen Joey investigating franchising options to expand her business into new markets. Sarah Robertson reports.
Book the Picnic in a Bubble for your clients and they will be treated to a unique experience. It’s an upmarket picnic, set up inside a clear plastic bubble stocked with cushions and blankets for comfort. “Guests get to enjoy a picnic in a beautiful location with none of the frustrations of bugs biting you and leaves falling in your food. The bubble also allows couples and families to take off their masks and enjoy a meal together while socially isolating in a public place,” says Picnic in a Bubble founder, Joey Kganyago.
The large bubbles are completely clear, offering guests a 360-degree view of their location. They are ventilated by a small window and an air pump that keeps the bubble from collapsing.
To date, Joey has hosted most of her picnics at The Bridge wedding venue in Muldersdrift, where she is able to set up a bubble in the venue’s manicured gardens or on the banks of the Wilgespruit River. She shares a symbiotic relationship with the venue, with both parties referring business to each other, but Joey explains that the bubble can be set up at any venue of the client’s choice, as long as there is access to a plug point.
All Joey’s marketing has been done through social media so far and she says she gets a lot of referral business when guests share their pictures of their bubble picnics on their own social media pages. “We have also become very popular on Tiktok,” she adds. Joey is working on a website for her business and says the picnics are in such demand that she had to purchase a second bubble this month to meet the growing demand.
Joey’s start-up also caught the eye of South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, who enthused about it on her personal Facebook account after Joey hosted her for a picnic.
“I normally don’t share private activities but I have to share this one,” said the Minister on Facebook recently. “I came across bubble picnic pictures on social media and made a booking to spend the afternoon relaxing. I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. This is a business run by a young black woman. I love this innovation. Please support her.”
Joey says she is now getting bookings not only from Gauteng residents but also from people in nearby provinces such as North West and Limpopo, who are driving through to Muldersdrift for the day to enjoy a picnic. “We all really need to get out after lockdown and this is a fun and safe way to do so,” she says.
Due to demand, Joey is also looking at franchising her business to expand across the SADC region. She is currently drawing up the legal documentation to launch the franchises.
Joey charges R1 450 per couple for a bubble picnic, which includes a platter and a bottle of sparkling wine. Most picnics are booked for an hour and a half, but longer picnics can be arranged.
